The room where Admiral Lord Nelson's body lay after the Battle of Trafalgar is to reopen to the public for the first time in 70 years.

The Nelson Room at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich opens from 26 April and will feature a life-size statue of Lord Nelson.

The statue will be the main focus of an exhibition held in the room.

His body had remained in the room for two weeks after being taken there in a coffin on Christmas Eve 1805.

'Fully restored'

The room, which has been used as a smoking room, the records office of Greenwich hospital, an extension of the Painted Hall art gallery, and for making tea and toast, was completed in 1705.

Lord Nelson's body had travelled to the Nelson Room in a coffin made from the mast of the French ship L'Orient.

After two weeks, the body was transferred to the Painted Hall where it lay in state.

Up to 90,000 mourners had filed past the coffin to pay their respects.

A spokesman for the Greenwich Foundation said: "The Nelson Room, with high-vaulted and domed circular ceiling, has been fully restored, revealing original stone floors and features for the first time for nearly 70 years.

"From April 26 it will house an exhibition about Nelson's lying in state and his funeral."

The celebrations coincide with the 200th anniversary of the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar.